Popmuseum tells the history of musical co-operation between Czech and Slovak artists

Until the end of February, you can visit an exhibition about the history of ‘Czecho-Slovakian’ music in Popmuseum, a museum and archive of popular music. The country of Czechoslovakia existed under different names from the Declaration of Independence on the 28th October 1918 to its peaceful dissolution on the 1st of January 1993. However, the music scenes of the two countries stayed closely linked even after the common republic ceased to exist and that is why the exhibition rightly celebrates the hundred years of this ‘musical relationship’ of Czech and Slovaks. A permanent exhibition is located in the Cultural Centre Kaštan in Břevnov, featuring musical instruments, particularly electric guitars of Czechoslovak production and selected keyboard instruments used in former Czechoslovakia. Furthermore, there is an archive of sheet music and recordings that is available to researchers.

Czecho-Slovak musical century

Currently, Popmuseum is holding an exhibit called ‘It Turned Out Well’ which is dedicated to this ‘Czecho-Slovakian’ music. The century of musical co-operation is compared humorously to a marriage. It starts with a marriage of convenience (1918-30), followed by a ‘honeymoon of love and skirmish’ (1930 - 39). A period of infidelity (1939 - 45) eventually leads to reconciliation (1945 - 60), which circles back to another season of love and skirmish (1960 - 69). And after a reasonable agreement on separate accounts (1969 - 90), it concludes with a divorce (1990 - 92). Fortunately, everything turns out well on both sides.

Brass-band music, swing, folk music, pop music

The exhibition shows the character of this musical marriage: it is a variation of tramping songs, brass-band music, swing of the thirties and folk songs, traditional instruments such as whistles and flutes including unique Slovak shepherd’s fujara, dances such as czardas and later, pop music.

During the century of Czechoslovakian unity, Slovak singers recorded in Prague studios and Czech teachers taught in Slovakia. Slovakia developed its musical scene greatly, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s, and focused more on rock music than Czech musicians. Since the partition, Slovakian artists continue to sing in Czech, proving that they still have a lot to say.

The exhibition is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic 1918-2018.

U Kaštanu used to be a coaching inn. Throughout its history, various organisations and societies held many gatherings and meetings in the adjoined garden restaurant. The most important meeting took place on the 7th of April 1878, when the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party was founded. That is why the Museum of the Beginnings of the Czechoslovak Workers' Movement was established there in 1953, which was abolished in 1962. Today, the Cultural Centre Kaštan is based in this historical building.